2014 Offseason Thread

[mvp 78]

And Fred, with all the stuff you've written on every messageboard from here to the Acadia Water Polo team, I wouldn't get into a war of words with UN. It's not going to be enjoyable and you'll only get your blood pressure up. If you have someone on ignore, just ignore them. Tell your friend to not forward UN's posts if they upset you. Isn't that the reason you have him on ignore in the first place? (If that was me, I'd be more upset with my friend for riling me up than with soneone I'm ignoring. Whatever.)

 

Look, I've got nothing personal against you Fred. Just trying to help not turn this place into a shitstorm.

[a700hitter]

Ignore makes life much easier here when UN is here.

[User Name]

Fred's too easy. a700's a bigger challenge because he's relatively smarter.

[a700hitter]

Amen Pal. I see so many saying bridge year. Ok f*** the bridge. This is the red sox not a small market Tampa Bay type that nickel and dime to be competitive they are to compete every year.

 

I want to think a big pitcher will be added in the near future. Does anyone know the day ticket sales for this up coming year? Ofcourse Hanley & Panda will be on the stub but I'd say that if a pitcher is the be added it will be before then to add that pitcher photo in the middle of the two sluggers on the stub.

 

Tickets may have already come out tho I've looked a couple of times on Stub Hub and all it says is TBA so if theyve already been printed I'm totally wrong about adding an ace.

 

Some said 2012 was a bridge year. Some said last year was bridge year. Now, they are saying that 2015 will be a bridge year. I guess that Boston is the Venice of baseball in the New England.

[Bellhorn04]

Some said 2012 was a bridge year. Some said last year was bridge year. Now, they are saying that 2015 will be a bridge year. I guess that Boston is the Venice of baseball in the New England.

 

LOL Epstein had no idea what he was unleashing that fateful day when he introduced the word 'bridge' to a maniacal fandom.

[cp176]

It was an easier time growing up in the 60's playing Strato and being a devoted fan of the Red Sox. Until 67, we knew what we had. No guesswork - no predictions - no real hope. I cheated like a wild man in that game. Made a card for myself - hit an easy .300. Radatz started and won 20 plus. Wish that I had saved all my baseball cards. Today - just a few differences. Ticket prices sky rocket - payroll sky rockets - New England fans tend to think that we have some of the best young prospects in the world. Do people really think in terms of bridge year?

[a700hitter]

LOL Epstein had no idea what he was unleashing that fateful day when he introduced the word 'bridge' to a maniacal fandom.

It's a stupid term that was meant to alleviate bad feelings about a down year, and it backfired on him.

[a700hitter]

It was an easier time growing up in the 60's playing Strato and being a devoted fan of the Red Sox. Until 67, we knew what we had. No guesswork - no predictions - no real hope. I cheated like a wild man in that game. Made a card for myself - hit an easy .300. Radatz started and won 20 plus. Wish that I had saved all my baseball cards. Today - just a few differences. Ticket prices sky rocket - payroll sky rockets - New England fans tend to think that we have some of the best young prospects in the world. Do people really think in terms of bridge year?

LOL! Even in 1980's things were still simple-- almost 10 years into free-agency. I found my ticket stubs to Yaz Day in 1983 -- baseline reserved seats cost $6. The scalpers made a killing that day -- I paid $15 each. LOL!

[cp176]

LOL! Even in 1980's things were still simple-- almost 10 years into free-agency. I found my ticket stubs to Yaz Day in 1983 -- baseline reserved seats cost $6. The scalpers made a killing that day -- I paid $15 each. LOL!

 

I just watched 42 the other day. Obviously I don't watch much. 35,000 wasn't a bad payday back then. I have been in all parts of that ballpark at one time or another. The price paid today to sit in some of those places is astronomical. Who goes? I don't feel too bad about being a little critical from time to time. My Pete Rose rookie that I had between the spokes of my bike wouldn't get me through the gate today.

[a700hitter]

I My Pete Rose rookie that I had between the spokes of my bike wouldn't get me through the gate today.

And neither would Pete Rose.

[mvp 78]

Some said 2012 was a bridge year. Some said last year was bridge year. Now, they are saying that 2015 will be a bridge year. I guess that Boston is the Venice of baseball in the New England.

 

Venice of baseball: looks good but smells like s***?

[mvp 78]

It was an easier time growing up in the 60's playing Strato and being a devoted fan of the Red Sox. Until 67, we knew what we had. No guesswork - no predictions - no real hope. I cheated like a wild man in that game. Made a card for myself - hit an easy .300. Radatz started and won 20 plus. Wish that I had saved all my baseball cards. Today - just a few differences. Ticket prices sky rocket - payroll sky rockets - New England fans tend to think that we have some of the best young prospects in the world. Do people really think in terms of bridge year?

It's not just "New England fans" that like the Sox farm system, it's also people paid to actually evaluate the talent that think it's one if the best farm systems in the game.

[Palodios]

It's not just "New England fans" that like the Sox farm system, it's also people paid to actually evaluate the talent that think it's one if the best farm systems in the game.

 

Most of the top tier guys graduated. Xander, Mookie, Barnes, Ranaudo, Vazquez were the guys the bridge was supposed to connect.

 

The last great Red Sox team, and the next great Red Sox team are both here together. Seems like as good a time as any to go for it.

[cp176]

It's not just "New England fans" that like the Sox farm system, it's also people paid to actually evaluate the talent that think it's one if the best farm systems in the game.

 

Well thank you for that Point being that there might be some other pretty good farm systems out there. It might be possible that they produce players equally as talented as the Red Sox have.

[vjcsmoke]

Although our farm is highly touted, Who has our farm team actually produced though over the past 2-3 years? Xander - still a big questionmark, Bradley Jr - can't hit ML pitching at all, Vazquez - great glove, mediocre bat, Middlebrooks - shipped off as a bust. I can't think of anybody. This isn't like last time we had championship hopes when we promoted studs like Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, Buccholz all around the same time.

 

PS yeah Buccholz isn't exactly a stud now, but he performed very well on occasion and looked like one earlier in his career.

[cp176]

I agree with you . I think that the people who do the evaluating for this organization have done a good job. Certainly a job that I wouldn't and couldn't do. Reality just seems to say that they aren't doing a better job than any number of other organizations. You kind of roll the dice until they make the leap to the big club.

[User Name]

That's not how farm systems work. Prospects take time to develop in both the minors and majors, and they can also be used to trade for major league talent. So besides Xander and Vasquez, the farm system essentially produced Wade Miley as well.

[cp176]

That's not how farm systems work. Prospects take time to develop in both the minors and majors, and they can also be used to trade for major league talent. So besides Xander and Vasquez, the farm system essentially produced Wade Miley as well.

 

Very true - Pedro as well I think.

[User Name]

Also, saying Bradley "can't hit ML pitching at all" is an exercise in foolishness, because you can't accurately project whether or not he'll adjust based on one season. That runs you the risk of trading him away and then having him turn into Denard Span. He may or may not. We just don't know, but no one on this site can throw out a definitive statement like that because it's ridiculous.

[mvp 78]

Mookie f'n betts you dummies!

[mvp 78]

Anthony Rizzo looks good these days.

[BSN07]

Sox are already over the LT. I don't see them going Yankee/Dodger territory by signing Shields or Scherzer. That would be against the general MO of the franchise. Rumors also have them as a contender for the Cuban phenom Moncada. I'm pretty sure if they signed him that's going towards the LT too. That's another 70-80M(30-40M to Moncada +100% tax). Does anyone honestly see the team spending another 200M+ this off season? I think it would be an absolute shocker if they did that personally. I think they stand pat on anything big(except Moncada) for the rest of the off season and make big moves if needed between June and ST 2016.

[User Name]

It wouldn't be a shocker to me. John Henry said they wouldn't mind going over the LT since they have some big money coming off the books soon.

[BSN07]

The Nationals have acquired catcher Dan Butler from the Red Sox in exchange for lefty Daniel Rosenbaum, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports on Twitter. Butler had been designated for assignment a week ago.

 

I'm surprised they managed to get a warm body for him lol

[a700hitter]

Anthony Rizzo looks good these days.

FO definitely bet on the wrong horse keeping the guys they did and moving Rizzo.

[User Name]

That's a load of bull. Gonzales has outproduced Rizzo in a much worse offensive stadium, and Casey Kelly has done nothing. The Crawford contract was the issue. Goddamn, get your facts straight.

[Palodios]

FO definitely bet on the wrong horse keeping the guys they did and moving Rizzo.

 

Rizzo took a long time to develop. If he were here, he may have been booed out of town before he had the chance.

 

His first 3 seasons produced a .735 OPS at first base, an offense-first position.

In two seasons, Bogaerts has a .670 OPS at a much more difficult position.

In his three seasons, WMB has has a .695 OPS.

[User Name]

a700 is just a mass of contradictions. He'll move the goalposts without mercy as long as it allows him to get a shot at the FO. Adorable.

[a700hitter]

Rizzo took a long time to develop. If he were here, he may have been booed out of town before he had the chance.

 

His first 3 seasons produced a .735 OPS at first base, an offense-first position.

In two seasons, Bogaerts has a .670 OPS at a much more difficult position.

In his three seasons, WMB has has a .695 OPS.

Fenway isn't a really big place for boo-birds for the hometown guys. Bradley Jr. had probably the worst full season that I have seen a Sox player have offensively, and he did not hear too many boos. There was a lot of patience for the kid. Plus, I think people felt bad for him. Middlestinks also didn't suffer through much negative fan reaction. I doubt that Rizzo's growing pains would have been made more painful by the Fenway faithful.

[mvp 78]

Fenway isn't a really big place for boo-birds for the hometown guys. Bradley Jr. had probably the worst full season that I have seen a Sox player have offensively, and he did not hear too many boos. There was a lot of patience for the kid. Plus, I think people felt bad for him. Middlestinks also didn't suffer through much negative fan reaction. I doubt that Rizzo's growing pains would have been made more painful by the Fenway faithful.

 

Yes, the crowd at Fenway is a lot different than 15 years ago, a much more white collar elitist vibe, just happy to be there.